|
|
|
Comment |
Sorted by
Date Written |
Re: Automatic weak? (Reply to this comment)
by mike450se
Hi,
I bought a 2003 Forester in April 2003 and I have been pleased with all aspects of the car except the seats. Mainly I wanted to say here that I find it has plenty of power for a 4 cylinder engine. It has the best power I have experienced in a regular 4. The automatic transmission is very responsive and that makes the engine even more peppy. It has plenty of power on demand for all highway situations I have found.
Great car for the money and very convenient with the "small station wagon design." Is much more usable than my old Dodge Caravan as to the rear cargo area. The rear hatch is much easier to open and the cargo space is very good and wide open.
|
Feb 04 '04
6:00 pm PST
|
|
2003 Subaru Forester X (Reply to this comment)
by mech
After driving an old subaru loyale that just wouldn't die, I knew the next new car I'd buy was a Subaru. I bought the Subaru Forester X(manual trans). I got a lot for the money. I added stereo upgrades and a mirror with compass. After 6000miles I have no complaints. This is a great car.
|
Sep 04 '03
7:18 pm PDT
|
|
Odd proportions... (Reply to this comment)
by smcgrath
I'm a very big man...over 300lbs and over 6'2" and went to the Subaru dealer to drive an Outback wagon...which, alas, I did not fit into.
Unexpectedly, I fit quite well into a Forester with the seat all the way back...and I drove, and really loved, the XT...peppy, smooth, a lovely ride, much more exciting than the XS.
Alas, it's a little small for a family of four. I wish it weren't though. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. This is the ONLY Subaru that I fit into...I tried Legacy sedans, every other model.
Guess no WRX for me...
|
Sep 02 '03
7:35 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Comments and Correction (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh,  in Cars & Motorsports
They didn't create a new engine from scratch for the WRX STi. The basic block design is the same 2.5 found in the Forester and other Subarus. That said, this block has been heavily modified to handle the additional power, and the heads are clearly different (DOHC instead of SOHC, for one thing).
|
Jul 29 '03
2:57 am PDT
|
|
Comments and Correction (Reply to this comment)
by tbone2k
Well I drove a couple of different XTs now that they are more readily available. First I would agree on the tires. They are not suited to a vehicle with this much power. That said, I drove an XT whose tires and rims had been swapped for the optional 17" from the WRX. It didn't help much. Body lean is still excessive although grip improved. Bottom line, if you are buying a vehicle for handling and cornering, have a look at the WRX. If you want straight line kick and like the tall wagon body style, this is probably the best choice out there.
Also a couple of corrections. The Forester XT does not use the same engine as the other Forester models. It actually uses the same engine as the WRX STi, but with the smaller turbo from the WRX.
Additionally, for those outside the United States, for some strange reason the "premium package" that includes sunroof, auto and leather is different outside of the US. On Canadian models sunroof is standard on the XT. Automatic is an option on all levels and the "premium package" adds leather.
|
Jul 28 '03
9:44 pm PDT
|
|
... (Reply to this comment)
by hyundai_fan
About the X's fuel economy, it says in your review 19mpg city for an auto, but 18mpg for a manual. Doesn't an auto use more gas? I also heard the Forester had a hill system where the brakes hold the car on a hill so it doesn't roll back when driving the manual.
~Scott.
|
Jul 28 '03
4:00 am PDT
|
|
I just bought the 2004 Subaru Forester 2.5XT! (Reply to this comment)
by sls4083
It hit the lot and sat there for one day; they were hiding it behind the shop because they still had many 2003's to get rid of. I test drove it and was sold! I had a 2002 Subaru Legacy but was a bit disappointed in the putt-puttiness of the engine. Wow, the turbo is so much nicer. I have it in silver, premium package with leather and all the bells and whistles. The sunroof is immense! I immediately got the windows Solar Shielded and boy it looks hot! So far, with 350 miles on it the mpg is only about 16 and the only glitch thus far was a loose wire in a speaker. This one is a keeper, it's got the Subaru name and quality and just the little more "oomph" that I wanted out of my car.
|
Jul 26 '03
5:04 pm PDT
|
|
reliability (Reply to this comment)
by kbond7
I hope the new Forester is more reliable than my 98 which I am finally giving up on after replacing the differential 2, yes 2 times and the right rear wheel bearing 3, yes 3 times as well as the AC compressor and that is not the all of it. I usually spend between $1500 and $2500 or more in repairs yearly, not including maintenance. I like the way the vehicle drives when it is not in the shop, so I have hung on to it, but here is the last straw: I had an oil change last week which ended up with the dealer's mechanic saying I needed another $1700 plus worth of repairs on things that have never needed replacing on any other vehicle I have ever owned and I'm in my mid 40's. I bought this vehicle new in August of 98 and have had never had to use my AAAplus towing benefit more in the 1st few years of owning a vehicle. I even feared AAA would cancel me out. I had always heard good things about Subarus and this vehicle was rated well in it's year. It makes me wonder how reliability is determined on a newly introduced vehicle. I will never buy another Subaru
|
Apr 12 '03
4:12 pm PDT
|
|
reliability (Reply to this comment)
by kbond7
I hope the new Forester is more reliable than my 98 which I am finally giving up on after replacing the differential 2, yes 2 times and the right rear wheel bearing 3, yes 3 times as well as the AC compressor and that is not the all of it. I usually spend between $1500 and $2500 or more in repairs yearly, not including maintenance. I like the way the vehicle drives when it is not in the shop, so I have hung on to it, but here is the last straw: I had an oil change last week which ended up with the dealer's mechanic saying I needed another $1700 plus worth of repairs on things that have never needed replacing on any other vehicle I have ever owned and I'm in my mid 40's. I bought this vehicle new in August of 98 and have had never had to use my AAAplus towing benefit more in the 1st few years of owning a vehicle. I even feared AAA would cancel me out. I had always heard good things about Subarus and this vehicle was rated well in it's year. It makes me wonder how reliability is determined on a newly introduced vehicle. I will never buy another Subaru
|
Apr 12 '03
4:11 pm PDT
|
|
Can't Wait for the XT (Reply to this comment)
by tbone2k
Okay, based on what you and others have said, I knew the styling and design was right for me. I test-drove a Forester X with a 5-speed. Now I just have to wait until May/June for the 2.5l turbo! According to my dealer (in Canada), they are getting a model preview mid-may, which means they will probably start shipping right after that.
|
Apr 02 '03
12:18 pm PST
|
|
Re: Automatic weak? (Reply to this comment)
by mkaresh, in Cars & Motorsports
Thanks for the evaluation.
I've driven the Outlander. And, yes, it's much weaker. I guess "less than powerful, but more than weak" better fits the Subaru.
|
Oct 28 '02
3:49 am PST
|
|
Automatic weak? (Reply to this comment)
by raroach
I drove the manual and automatic models, and purchased an XS with the automatic transmission. I do not find it "weak." It has sufficient power. If you want to see "weak", drive the new Mitsubishi Outlander, which has 20 HP less. I also would like to drive a Forester with the WRX 2.0 liter turbocharged engine!
|
Oct 27 '02
11:01 am PST
|
|
Wow (Reply to this comment)
by vara,  in Cars & Motorsports
Really picking up the pace on those SUV reviews, aren't we? Excellent, as always.
-Daniel
|
Sep 15 '02
2:43 pm PDT
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.